AST Surgical Technologist Practice Exam

The most common cause of retinal detachment is:

1. Diabetes

2. Trauma

3. Genetic predisposition

4. Hypertension

The correct answer is: Trauma

The most common cause of retinal detachment is indeed trauma. This can occur due to significant physical injuries to the eye or head, which can result in the separation of the retinal layers. Traumatic events can create tears in the retina or lead to the accumulation of fluid beneath the retina, both of which can contribute to the detachment process. While other factors like diabetes, genetic predisposition, and hypertension can increase the risk of retinal issues, they are not generally cited as the leading causes of true retinal detachment in the way trauma can directly instigate it. Diabetes primarily leads to diabetic retinopathy, which can cause complications but not typically direct separations like those caused by traumatic injury. Similarly, hypertension can lead to retinal vascular changes, while genetic factors can predispose individuals to various ocular diseases but do not often lead specifically to retinal detachment as directly as trauma does.